By Phil Watson
When apple tree wildlings are seen in roadside drainage culverts, their origins may well be traced back to the first deliberate act of introducing exotic flora into our untouched pristine landscape.
In 1773, Captain Cook laid over in Adventure Bay on Bruny Island. Prior to leaving he planted 2 seedling apple trees and some other fruit kernels. This planting and seed sowing activity heralded the future indiscriminate introduction of an exotic flora. Much of this foreign flora would flourish in a new disease free environment, eventually to become today's common invasive weeds.
Click on the links below, for an insite into the history of Tasmanian weeds.